Avadhuta said :
O Brahman, by going on a pilgrimage to seek you,
I have denied your omnipresence;
by meditating on you, I have given you form
in my mind and thus denied your formless nature;
by singing hymns, I have described you
and thus denied your indiscribable nature.
Forgive me for these three offenses.
[Avadhuta Gita, chapter VIII, verse 1]
The Buddha’s subtle smile projects no shadow,
his silent presence leaves no trace on wall;
and while we stroll on mind’s entrancing meadow,
into confusion’s trap we risk to fall.
Engaged in quest for godliness, we wander,
forgetting omnipresence of the One;
upon illusive mysteries we ponder,
seek blissful state that, in a glimpse, is gone.
Yet, who has seen the Buddha’s maskless face,
that radiates with formless, timeless presence ?
No eyes can see, no mind can grasp that space,
this all-embracing Void – immortal essence.
The Buddha’s faceless face is but our own.
When form and shadow fade, the Truth is known.
Author notes
english sonnet in alternating iambic pentameter and tailless hexameter
inspired by the painting "l'ombre du bouddha"
by brigitte barberane :
http://www.artmajeur.com/barberane/
In a list
A contest entry
- Masks-Physical and Spiritual-Why we wear them? by SpiritMother.
1000 points, ended March 26, 24 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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What a wonderful sonnet you have penned here, maa. This reminds me of the story of the man who travels all around the world seeking the truth, only to find it when he returns home. Being a bit of an iconoclast who rejects graven imagery, no matter how seemingly high and noble, this poem really strikes a chord. I believe that Buddha requested that there be no personality-cult imagery created of himself, for just the very reason that you have so eloquently expressed in your beautiful poem.
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Heath has a quote
by tic nhat hahn it says "to be or not to be, that is not the queston" your take is well done, for many Buddhism is not as much a religion as a way of life, thus transcending all bias
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Smooth, beautiful and sophisticated. Perhaps your personal walk toward "the truth".
Sheila
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thank you so much for your sensitive words and very much appreciated visit on this page, dear sheila ...
heartfelt blessings,
maa
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Had to stop by!
I see you found a unique take on this that has a uninversal appeal on the prompt. So, I'll have take mine to a greater height. We all have our 'masks' to bear. Well done, poetess on bringing creativity to this.
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Language is a comparative jungle. The mind becomes trapped by its own tools and caged by the continuum of time. Our spirit unfolds in this maze and seeks guides only to learn it already knows.
Your words whisper the peace of being and sing the joy of the journey. May we touch on a moment of Now when we are everything.
Love,
Tom B.
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I know just how hard it is to write a sonnet. I've written two in my life, and neither of them turned out exactly as I wanted and were far from being my best work (I'm a poet who thrives in free verse, not forms, choosing to leave the formless formless )
The ending was especially well done, and feels very final. I love the observations it states.
I also love the included poem before your own.
Om shanti/ shakti. Nicely done.
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Your lovely sonnet points to a paradox which is not confusing when we understand some basic things. The spiritual path is not a path, we have already reached the destination; there is no division between sacred and mundane; there are no secrets.
But there is no point telling anyone about it. 
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Precious One ...
I wish you roses and fun on your spiritual path of sharing love.
With much admiration.
Myra
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Wonderfully composed, Marion.
My agent has three representations of Buddha at his home. On his office window cill he has a tiny figurine in resin, based on the great statue of the Amida at Kamakura. Behind that he has a picture of Buddha (seated, hand raised in blessing, but with no facial features discernable). Beyond that, in his garden, is a small statue, with a wind-inspired gong hanging from a fruit tree.
He is not a Buddhist, so I asked him why. His answer was:
"Two reasons. Firstly, because they are aesthetically pleasing. Secondly, because that isn't the point."
For someone who isn't a Buddhist, he would make a good Buddhist!
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I love your agent !
he probably doesn't even know he's wise
I'm not a buddhist neither, but this place here overcrowds with buddhist artwork : paintings, mandalas, objects,statues, books, music ... I also just bought the original painting you see in the poem ... it will arrive in our place tomorrow ...
why all this ?
because it isn't otherwise ...
thank you so much for your wonderful visit, I am always delighted when you stop by, petite marie ...
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I think he thinks he is, but secretly suspects he isn't, and probably worries too much about it anyway.
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